One woman's quest to document all the things that are positive in her life as a reminder that no matter what happens, on a daily basis, there are things to smile about, moments to celebrate, and love to experience!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

I haven't posted in awhile because...Life is so good! I've started my new job and am loving it! It is a completely different change of pace than what I was used to for the last three years, but a very welcome one! I am getting up to speed on what my job is really about and have several ideas that I'm hoping to implement in time and am just trying to make friends and influence people along the way. So far, so good! I'm very excited about the future and all it will bring.

Smile: What have I smiled about lately?
I've had a lot to smile about...a work life balance, continuing to build my relationship with God by joining a Bible Study on Tuesday evenings at church, seeing old friends at Kim's baby shower an laughing about old times, and feeling so welcomed in my new role. Yes, life is good and I'm very blessed these days!

Celebrate: What do I celebrate?

I celebrate my wonderful friend becoming a Mommy. I know she's scared, worried, anxious and also very excited, joyous and happy to be starting a family. I've known her for 20 years and throughout those years, I've never known her to be anything but a care taker, a wonderful self-less friend and a very strong person. Her precious Chloe will be a very lucky little girl. She's being born into a loving family that will always look out for her best interests, love her to her dying day and never let her want for anything. I'm very excited for her and know that her entire life has led her to this moment, this time to be the best influence, teacher, role-model and parent to this little girl. I pray that the delivery goes well and that she's safe and healthy. Welcome to the world baby girl! We're all glad you are coming to join us! I can't wait to meet you!

Love: What do I love?
Well, I had date number one for 2012. My sister-in-law aka matchmaker set me up with one of the doctors that she calls on. We had dinner on Friday night and ended up shutting down the restaurant. He was really nice and personable. I'm up for another date, if he is. We'll see what happens.

Monday, January 9, 2012

I'm back....Finally! I had such a GREAT day today! Was so wonderful walking out of the office with a smile on my face, not feeling any stress in my body and so excited about going back tomorrow to see what else I can do and learn! It's been a long time since I've been in this place! A long time. I'm really happy to be in this new role and while there is some ambiguity to it, I think it's going to be a fun opportunity to learn a lot in! I can't wait to implement new ideas and new approaches! I'm going to enjoy learning from this experience too!

My motto today!

Smile: What did I smile about today?
I smiled that I smiled! It was great to be welcomed back by folks that I've worked with before and feeling truly valued and appreciated. I had a GREAT day and I'm so happy this evening!

Celebrate: What did I celebrate today?
I ate good and worked out tonight! Something I haven't done after work in a LONG time! I'm getting back on track and hoping to drop a few pounds from all the stress that I've put on over the last few months!

Love: What do I love?I have said this before and will say it again...I love reality TV and tonight is so wonderful with the Bachelor AND Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! Such a great way to spend an evening after a fantastic day! Train wrecks galore to watch!!
Such great Television! If you aren't watching you don't know what you are missing! When I question if I'm sane and in control, I watch one of these shows and feel much better about myself and my sanity! Wow...these women are pitiful!

Three Words: I am happy!

Thought for the day: "Time is inevitably going to pass and one year from today, you can find yourself in the exact same spot you're in now, you can find yourself further away from your goal or you can find yourself closer to your goal - so where do you want to be a year from now?"

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Each year I choose a word of the year to help me identify and bring something new into my life. This year, I chose "FRESH" or should I say, it chose me. I'm inviting a fresh new start to this year, eating fresh foods, having fresh ideas, meeting new people, bringing a fresh breath of air to my job and career...FRESH...love this word~! I'll be able to explore it more though out this year as I partake in Ali Edwards One Little Word Class that Bonnie gave me for Christmas this year. I can't wait to see how this word cultivates itself in my life...in a positive way!

Side note, last year, my word was STRETCH...I think I went into the year thinking it would be one thing and wow...was I stretched in more ways than I think I ever imagined. I decided to choose a more positive one that may be a little nicer. Once again, be careful what you ask the universe for cause it will bring it to you. I'm trying to put more positive things out there this year--part of my fresh new mindset!

Smile: What did I smile about?

I smiled as I put my Circa Notebook together to be ready for tomorrow as I begin my new job. I can't tell you how much this liberated me and really helped to put the past behind so I can move on. I cleaned out my briefcase of all the papers and big notebook that I've been carrying around for the last several months and got things ready for a new beginning! I'm so happy to have this new opportunity and in spite of what may come...at least I won't be in the same situation I was. My stress, my health, my relationships couldn't take it any longer. So...I'm looking forward to tomorrow and go to bed this evening with a huge smile on my face!

Celebrate: What do I celebrate?

I celebrate that I am up to date on my Project Life Scrapbook for this year and I celebrate that I'm done with my 2011 Project LIfe scrapbook! I love this concept and love to keep up with the big and little things that happen throughout the year. I probably wouldn't have captured half the things I did last year without this project and am so grateful to look through the pages and relive the good and bad times of the year. I'm so excited that Bonnie is doing with me this year. I hope she finds it as rewarding as I did this last year! I love capturing life and all that it is!

Love: What do I love?
I love my new blue toes! I spent time with my friend Val today and we got manicures and pedicures together and I got blue polish! While it's winter and I'm not wearing open toed shoes at least I know my secret underneath the socks! Such a rebel...lol!

Three words:
BRING IT ON!
I'm ready for tomorrow!

Thought for the day: Sometimes winning has more to do with not giving up than winning. Robin Sharma.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Today was the last day in my current job and on Monday I get to turn to a new chapter in my life! I'm staying at my current company but am taking a different role in a different area. It's a very welcome change and one that I've been anticipating for a long time. I think this new chapter will bring me a change of pace (hopefully a slower one), some peace, and give me an opportunity to learn some new things that can help me grow in my career. I'm excited about the challenge and really looking forward to Monday when I get to turn the page on this chapter I'm currently in and start a new one! Time for fresh beginnings! So very happy!

During the course of the last month, I probably underwent one of the most stressful times in my career. Not sure why I was so spun up about things, but I was hooked and just couldn't let things go. I was challenged with people saying things about my character and my intentions and criticizing my skills and accomplishments. I know this is more about the individuals saying things and not about me, but it still put a damper on the excitement that I have about starting a new job and new adventure. I'm so glad that this day finally arrived! Thank you God for being with me during this very stressful time! I'm so glad you were there to listen to my prayers and know my heart and my intentions. I hope the people will be able to find peace in their heart and realize that they are only being infected by the Devil and his evil ways! What I know for sure...I'm free of all this stress and strain! So very happy to have this chapter closed! Thank God!

Smile: What made me smile?
There were some very special messages from people today saying good bye and wishing me well. While I have to say that I did get a slight bit choked up, I was very appreciative of the well wishes and kind words. Helped to sugar coat the other challenges that have come my way over the last few weeks.

Celebrate: What do I celebrate?
I celebrate what I've been able to accomplish in this current role. I took nothing and worked through others to create a good program that is better off now than when I found it. I know that I did the best I could and while there are things that I'd do differently and wish I had done all together, I'm very pleased with what I put into place during my time there. I know that someone will come behind me and find many things that we don't do, and will implement new changes that I would have liked to do, and I hope they do succeed, but I also have peace that I did a good job and am very proud of what results were achieved, in spite of what others may think.

Love: What do I love?
I've mentioned in the past that from time to time a little red bird appears in my life to show me hope and in my opinion, it is God's presence. This morning, I was a bit on edge, due to lack of sleep and just fet up with the people issues and when I was getting in the car, I noticed a red bird in my driveway. It stayed there for a few moments while I got a good look to make sure that it was red and not just my poor eye site. It was exactly what I needed to see this morning and I was so very happy to see that God was showing me that all is going to be alright. Was a great way start my day! Thank you God for being a visible presence in my life!

Thought for the day: Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.

I'm excited about the future and looking for to this new beginning! A FRESH new start. It's going to be a good year!

Monday, January 2, 2012

As I reflect back on this year that quickly passed by, I'm filled with so many emotions--joy, stress, exhaustion, happiness. It seems like it was a whirlwind kind of year and while not the worst year of my life, I don't know that it will be one that I will remember for years on end. One thing I know for sure, God answers prayers--and believe me, he heard a LOT from me this year! People in my life went through some difficult challenges this year, and there was quite a bit of change for some of us, but through it all, God provided, and kept us all in His care. I was able to see him working in my life on so many different occasions, one being me getting a new job at the end of the year. I'm looking forward to 2012 and hopeful that this year that is FRESH and New will bring more opportunities, less stress, greater joy and continued peace. Welcome 2012!

Some highlights from 2011:

Going to 3 Bon Jovi Concerts--Washington DC, San Antonio, TX, and Milwaukee, WI. I grew to really love this band even more and their music got me through both good and bad times this year. While I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I am such a fan, I feel like the messages that their songs provide me is worth that embarrassment.

Traveling to New York City, not once but twice this year. The first time (In March) with my wonderful Mom and Precious Sister and the second time (In October), with my work friend, Kristina. It was Tracy's first time to go to the Big Apple, and we saw it all in 4 days, including watching a movie being made called "New Year's Eve" starring my very own Jon Bon Jovi. We saw the ball being dropped and felt like we crossed something off our bucket list of being in Times Square at the stroke of midnight! Was quite fun trying to scope out Jon's trailer and trying to catch a glimpse of movie stars. Was one of the best trips that I've ever had there! Kristina and I enjoyed a weekend in a nice hotel (on the company of course) and enjoyed some time in Soho and Greenwich Village on a nice crisp Fall day.

Bonnie and I had an adventure in Arizona this summer. Who would have known that it would be cooler in Phoenix in August than in Texas! We stayed in a JW Marriott Resort and enjoyed the lazy river, some good food and drinks and lots of relaxing--something we both needed! We drove by my old house, introduced Bonnie to Trader Joes and got out of the heat by seeing a movie at my old favorite place! Was a great weekend! Thanks Southwest Airlines!

There were several big events that happened across the world this year along with the economy still in an unstable state, many people still out of work, and an election with candidates that no one is very excited about to be our President. We also followed several trials (Casey Anthony, Amanda Knox, and Conrad Murray) Some big events were:

The Wedding of William and Kate:

The killing of Osama Bin Laden:

The 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001

Weather played a very big role this year. In Texas, we saw extreme cold--an ice storm before the Super Bowl that lasted 5 days, and we saw extreme heat--69 days of over 100 degree temps!

Ice on my driveway! 1 inch!

Love--I tried online dating and once again bombed at it! Got discouraged and just decided to try on my own again. "Mr. Nice Guy" came into my life for a couple of months but distance was not on our side, so that relationship didn't work out.

Weight--Sad to say that I did not win the battle of the bulge this year! In fact, I think that I actually majorly lost it, given that I gain about 10 lbs this year and have had a very difficult time getting rid of it! I think getting older doesn't help, nor did the stress that I was under.

Job--I saw many successes in my job this year and feel very fulfilled in what I've accomplished at my company. I decided in October to look for new challenges and am very thankful that God opened those doors for me to expand my career and try something new. I'm hoping that it will be a little less stress, so I can focus on living and not on working to live! I'm hoping that 2012 will bring about new adventures!

I'm sure that I'm leaving out some other memorable events, but as I said earlier in this post, this was a whirlwind year and in many ways I can't believe that it's already over. As I look back over my Project Life scrapbook, it seems like just yesterday that it all began! I started this blog a year ago and it has brought me so much joy and is a great outlet for me. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of life, stopping to reflect on what has made me smile, what I celebrated and what I love has been great for me. So with that:

Smile: What have I smiled about lately?
I smile that this is a new year. A FRESH start.

Celebrate: What do I celebrate?
I celebrate that I have one week left of my current job and on January 9th I will be a Sr. Learning Manager for Associate Development! I can't wait!

Love: What do I love?
I love that I've had 11 days off of work, and only had to use 5 vacation days! I am rested, relaxed and really looking forward to a GREAT new year!

Thought for the day:
The best day of your life if the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses, no one to lean on, rely on or blame. The gift is your--it's an amazing journey--and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day, your life really begins! --Bob Moawad

About Me

I'm just a girl who is trying to focus on blessings and hope and less on complaints and negative things. I'm hopeful that this blog will allow me to focus on all the things I am so grateful for and am blessed to have in my wonderful life!